About Us
Francisca and Christina Llado established Montessori Children's Academy in 1996. With a combined 55 years of teaching experience between them, this mother and daughter team started MCA based on their dream of giving each individual child the best education possible and creating self sufficient learners for life.
When it came time to select schools for her own two children, Francisca was not satisfied with those available. While teaching in public school, Francisca had her own daughter, Josie, attending a Montessori school. She recognized through her daughter early on that the Montessori Method was best for children. She became certified as a Preschool Montessori teacher, while pregnant with Christina, and then certified as an Elementary Montessori teacher years later. After years of waiting for the right time she decided in 1996 to recruit her daughter and start MCA! From the outset, the school has enjoyed the reputation as a place where children learn and where the staff treats each child as their own. The Llados have gathered around them teachers who share their dedication to providing a quality, caring educational environment for children, and who are motivated to be second to none. MCA has grown from a single Pre-Kindergarten class into 4 classrooms (for children ages two to 5th grade).
Our Goal
Our goal is simple. We prepare children for a lifetime of creative thinking and learning. Our directresses are committed to ensuring that your child receives a broad strong academic education in the context of a carefully planned, stimulating environment. Through proven methods, we help children develop the essential foundational habits, attitudes, self esteem, skills and ideas that will shape the way they discover, learn and succeed in life. Research has shown that the best predictor of future success is a positive sense of self-esteem. MCA's program based on self-directed, non-competitive activities, helps children develop strong self images and the confidence to face challenges and change with optimism.
The MCA Learning Environment
Respecting and nurturing your child's dignity and ability is a critical element of our program. In MCA classrooms, our directresses address the specific needs of your child though work, play, and practice with hands-on materials. Our teachers our keenly aware of your child's developmental needs and introduce new challenges and materials accordingly. At MCA, children work individually and are encouraged to work at their own pace.
Dr. Maria Montessori created what she called "the prepared environment." Among its features is an ordered arrangement of sequential learning materials, designed to be developmentally appropriate and aesthetically appealing. Used in the Montessori classroom, the materials allow each child to develop at his/her own individual rate.
Montessori classrooms are unique in that they allow children to explore each subject area individually and at their own pace. It provides them with the opportunity to practice and perfect a specific skill as long as needed in order to achieve maximum success. Areas for learning are well defined, yet the room is open for all of the children to observe others at work. The Montessori environment teaches the child respect: respect for oneself, others, and the world around them.
El Nido dei Bambini/Toddler Classroom, La Casa dei Bambini/ 3 to 6 year Old Classroom, The Red Rods / 6 to 9 year old classroom and the Red Rods/ 3rd to 5th grade Classrooms at Montessori Children's Academy are fully prepared and equipped Montessori environments with materials from Italy and Holland. The curriculum is individualized and designed to help children grow at their own pace, gain self-confidence, independence, develop physically and socially, and promote academic achievement. The Montessori Environments include areas of Practical Life (care of the self and the environment), Sensorial, Language Arts, and Mathematics. There are also areas of specialization consisting of Geography, Botany, Zoology, Spanish, the Arts, Creative Movement, Yoga and Music.
School Credentials
Our school has a FULL Member Affiliation with American Montessori Society and has been a Member from its inception in 1996. We are in good standing with AMS. In other words, all teachers and assistants are Montessori certified and we have met all requirements set by the American Montessori Society. Membership in the American Montessori Society enables a school to participate in a vital national professional organization that is dedicated to the assurance of quality Montessori programs for children and families, the continuing development of Montessori teachers, and the expansion of Montessori practice into mainstream education.
Montessori Children's Academy's dedicated staff of Montessori Directress and Assistants have a combined 75 years of teaching experience in Montessori education and over 50 years of experience teaching with MCA. All are certified by the American Montessori Society.
Our teacher's training and experience include developmental psychology, Montessori theory, and practical, hands-on classroom training, as well as observation and practice teaching under training center guidance in approved, AMS-staffed Montessori classrooms.
* ALL our Teachers and assistants are Florida certified teachers as well as certified AMS (American Montessori Society) /IMS (International Montessori Society) teachers.
Affiliated with the logo for American Montessori Society